On Sunday 12th March 2017, Enter CIC participated in the inaugural MTI Europe Junior Theatre Celebration at the Curve Theatre, Leicester. This event provided an opportunity for groups from across the country to come together and celebrate musical theatre as an art form. Enter CIC were delighted to be representing the North East and Durham at this very special inaugural event.
In the run up to the event we prepared an extract from the musical ‘Aladdin’. We thought this was a very apt musical theatre choice as the lyricist for Aladdin is non other than Sir Tim Rice. As many of you will recall our students had the pleasure of performing with Sir Tim Rice at the Sage Gateshead and this musical enabled us to once again celebrate his work.
Our young people were excited to arrive at The Curve Theatre and despite an early start were full of energy and enthusiasm for the event. Our group had the privilege of performing first and opened the festival in style. Enter students performed with high energy and a real sense of commitment resulting in a powerful performance which impressed the adjudication panel comprised of West End directors and choreographers.
I’m very lucky that I get to do this across the world for iTheatrics and for this to be the very first thing that I’ve ever seen at our first JTC Europe was outstanding. You guys had so much energy and such focus and poise right from the start. You were so professional with everything you were doing, it was so great. You had such command of what you were saying. The power you guys have is incredible.
Marty Johnson, Resident Director, iTheatrics
After the presentation our young people participated in an array of afternoon activities and interactive workshops with teaching artists from the West End productions of Disney’s The Lion King, Matilda and Wicked. They were also party to a special Questions & Answer segment with Joanne Clifton, winner of the latest edition of Strictly Come Dancing, now touring the UK in the title role of Thoroughly Modern Millie.
The day-long event concluded with an Awards Ceremony and performance by a group of “All-Star” singers and dancers which featured three Enter CIC students and a concert of Broadway and West End standards, performed by West End stars Liam Doyle (Wicked, Mamma Mia!), Sophie Linder-Lee (Wicked, Mamma Mia!), Sam Lupton (Little Shop of Horrors, Starting Here, Starting Now) and Kayleigh McKnight (Les Misérables, Bend It Like Beckham) lead by Musical Director Kris Rawlinson.
A fabulous time was had by all and once again memories were made which will last a lifetime.
